Hoe.



'J. s. LESTER.

HOE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1907.

902,094. Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

uuqntop (72/7265 Ji lmec I arm I JAMES S. LESTER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed November 9, 1907. Serial No. 401,479.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. Lns'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Hoe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hoes and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive implement of this character having its blade provided with a plurality of cutting edges any one of which may be presented to the work.

A further object of the invention is to form the blade of the hoe with a plurality of openings adapted to receive a fastening means so that the blade may be adjusted laterally on either side of the handle and at any angle or inclination with respect thereto, said openings also serving to permit the passage of cement, mortar or similar material when the hoe is used for mixing the same.

A further object is'to provide an improved ferrule or socket for reinforcing and strengthening the operating handle of the tool, said ferrule being provided with attaching spurs adapted to be driven into the handle thereby to prevent accidental displacement of the ferrule.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoe constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the hoe. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank from which the ferrule of the hoe is constructed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved hoe forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises an operating handle 5 having one end thereof inclined or beveled at 6 for engagement with a correspondingly shaped ferrule or socket 7. The ferrule or socket 7 is preferably stamped or otherwise formed from a single sheet of metal the upper edge of which is bent or turned outwardly to form a reinforcing rib 8 while the lower edge thereof is bent inwardly to form a similar reinforcing rib 9, the opposite longitudinal edges of the metal blank being bent laterally in opposite directions to form flanges 10 and 11 which interengage and retain the ferrule in shape without the employment of solder,rivets, bolts and similar fastening devices. The metal form ing the ferrule 7 is provided with V shaped incisions 12 preferably disposed beneath the upper reinforcing rib 8 and defining attaching spurs 13 adapted to be driven or otherwise embedded in the handle 5 thereby to lock the ferrule in position on said handle.

Secured to the end of-the handle at the ferrule 6 are wedge shaped blocks 14 and 15 having their adjacent faces inclined or beveled in opposite directions at 16 and between which is interposed the blade of the hoe, indicatedat 17. The blade 17 is preferably rectangular in shape and provided with a plurality of cutting edges 18 so that any particular edge may be presented to the Work, said blade being formed with a plu rality of spaced openings 19 adapted to receive a screw or similar fastening device 20. The screw 20 passes through the adjacent opening 19 and through similar openings 21 formed in the wedge shaped blocks 14: and 15, the threaded end of the screw being centered with respect to the socket 6 and embedded in the end of the handle 5, as shown. By forming the blade with a plurality of openings 19 the blade may be adjusted laterally on either side of the handle 5 while by reason of the wedge shaped set blocks said blade may be adjusted at an angle or inclination with respect to said handle. The openings 19 not only receive the fastening means or screw 20 but also serve to permit the passage of cement, mortar and similar material when the hoe is used for mixing the same.

The wedge shaped blocks 14 and 15 are provided with transverse apertures 22 adapted to register with each other for the reception of a locking pin 23, said p1n be 1ng passed through one of a series of similar apertures 23 in the blade 17 and driven into the adjacent end of the handle thereby to prevent rotation of both the handle and set blocks. It will thus be seen that by removing the screw 20 and reversing the position of the set blocks 1a and 15 the blade 17 may be disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle 5. When the hoe is used for mixing mortar and the like one of the openings 19 will be made just large enough to accommodate the screw 20 while the remaining openings will be relatively large so as to permit the free passage of the mortar and thus assist in agitating the same.

Attention is here called to the fact that the enlarged ends of the wedge shaped blocks are inclined or beveled at 2 so as to prevent the mortar or other material from adhering to said blocks when the tool is used as a mortar mixer.

hen the hoe is used as a scraper a single opening will be formed near the center of the blade 17 so that the several cutting edges will extend equal distances on opposite sides of the handle and in convenient position to engage the work.

While the ferrule and wedge shaped set blocks are shown in connection with a hoe it is obvious that the same may be used with equally good results in connection with the handles of forks, rakes or wherever a device of this character is found desirable.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple, inexpensive and efficient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. An implement of the class described comprising a ferrule for attachment to an operating handle, co-acting set blocks one of which bears against the adjacent end of the ferrule, a blade interposed between the set blocks, and a fastening device piercing the blade and blocks and adapted to be driven into the handle.

2. An implement of the class described comprising a ferrule for attachment to an operating handle, co-acting wedge shaped blocks one of which bears against the adjacent end of the ferrule, said blocks being provided with inclined faces, a blade interposed between the blocks and engaging the inclined faces of the latter, and a fastening device piercing the blade and blocks and adapted to be driven into the adjacent end of the handle.

3. A device of the class described comprising a ferrule, co-acting set blocks one of which bears against the adjacent end of the ferrule, a blade interposed between the blocks and having a plurality of openings formed therein, and a fastening device passing through the blocks and one of the openings in the blade for engagement with the adjacent end of the operating handle.

at. A device of the class described comprising a ferrule having means for attachment to an operating handle, wedge shaped blocks one of which is secured to one end of the ferrule, both blocks being provided with inclined faces, a blade interposed between the blocks and bearing against said inclined faces, said blade being provided with a plurality of cutting edges and having a series of transverse openings formed therein, and a fastening device passing through the blocks and one of the openings in the blade for engagement with the adjacent end of the handle.

5. A device of the class described comprising a ferrule for attachment to an operating handle, wedge shaped blocks having apertures formed therein and adapted to register with each other, a blade interposed between said blocks and having a plurality of openings and apertures formed therein, a pin extending through the apertures in the blocks and one of said apertures in the blade and engaging the adjacent end of the handle, and a set screw passing through said blocks and one of the openings in the blade for engagement with the adjacent end of the handle.

6. A device of the class described comprising an operating handle, a ferrule secured to one end of the handle, wedge shaped set blocks one of which bears against the ferrule, said blocks each having one end thereof inclined, a blade interposed between the blocks, said blade being provided with a plurality of cutting edges and having a series of openings formed therein, a pin extending through the blocks and engaging the operating handle, and a fastening device passing through said blocks and one of the openings in the blade for engagement with said handle. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S. LESTER.

lVitnesses R. E. GREGORY, S. E. CLELAND. 

